The referendum on Moldova’s external devolvement course initiated by the Governor of Gagauzia is illegal, the head of the Law Division of the Parliament’s Staff Ion Creanga has told IPN. Gagauzia can hold local referendums only on matters concerning the local public administration, not yet on the national policy, not speaking about the foreign policy.
“They can decide on joining villages, can create communes, but cannot decide the national policy,” said Ion Creanga. According to him, if the referendum is held, it can be challenged in court.
Constitutional law expert Gheorghe Susarenko said that under the Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri), the local authorities have very narrow foreign relations powers and a referendum on such a topic is not within their competence. A consultative referendum does not have legal power and is thus not mandatory for Parliament, but the legislative body can take the people’s opinion into account.
Gheorghe Susarenko believes the referendum was announced with the aim of showing that the people want closer relations with Russia and integration into the Customs Union, not into the European Union. “They want to show the Russians that they are good friends,” he stated.
Contacted by IPN, the chairman of the Central Election Commission Iurie Ciocan said the central authority hasn’t been officially informed about referendums. “Under the law, a local referendum in Moldova can be held by the decision of the Central Election Commission,” he said.
On October 1, the Governor of Gagauzia Mihail Formuzal made a decision to hold a local referendum on the external devolvement course of Moldova.
